Neighborhood association showcases affordable housing options at neighborhood party
By Kylie Walker
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — At the 15th annual Arts Café, the Near Northwest Neighborhood Association showcased affordable housing within its neighborhood.
Kathy Schuth, executive director for the Near Northwest Side Neighborhood Association, said the revitalization of the neighborhood is lifting people up. She said people nearby are seeing their work and improving their homes as well.
“We’re just thrilled,” she said. “Other folks are also able to improve their housing and seeing the value in doing that.”
Susan Greutman attended this year’s Art’s Café and donated vegetables from her urban farm to help make vegan tacos and the NNN golden beer. She said she loves living on the near northwest side.
“We love the way the neighborhood association keeps building and growing and all the work that’s being done,” said Greutman.
Eight homes, within the near northwest side, are being renovated and constructed by the NNN and Habitat for Humanity. Mike Keen, a construction consultant, said one of the homes is the highest performance homes in Indiana.
“This house produces as much energy as it uses,” Keen said. “We use high efficiency windows, high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems and high efficiency appliances.”
He said the home’s design keeps a family’s utility and maintenance cost down for the length of their mortgage.
“They’re not living so close to the margin,” Keen said. “It gives them a greater cushion and a greater sense of financial security to be able to live in that house.”
He said a home like this would have a price tag between $170,000 and $185,000. Andrew Carry said there’s interest because there are five habitat builds in progress on the near northwest side.
“We’ve had hundreds of people walk in through our open house,” he said. “They said they’ve seen the house go up and they’re amazed at how nice it is.”
For more information on home ownership programs log on to Habitat for Humanity or Near Northwest Side Neighborhood Association.